Resocialization Christmas Bazaar's Bargains Are Good Investments

Yes, Glenn Parsons, 55, is proud of his contribution to this year's Resocialization Christmas Bazaar, under way this week at the Westminster Senior Center.

"I even put some of the ornaments on the Christmas tree," he said, smiling.

Parsons is one of about 30 seniors who will show and sell their ceramics, wooden crafts, Nativity sets and homemade goodies from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Friday.

The bazaar is an important annual event because all profits are plowed back into resocialization programs, said Olivia Schrodetski, the center's program manager.

"This is probably about the eighth year we have had the bazaar," she said. "Everything that we make from the sale of these items is used to help defray the costs of our programs.

"What we make helpsus to buy our materials and keep these programs going."

Parsons, who attends daily, said the center and its programs give seniors a place to go and something worthwhile to do.

"People need this center, because the old people have no place to go. This is a good place togo, because there is a lot to do," said the Westminster resident.

"We need to make a whole lot of money so that we can keep these programs going," Parsons said.

The Westminster center's resocialization program enables some 55 seniors to socialize and participate in organized daytime activities, including ceramics, quilting, painting, needlepoint, exercise, music therapy, dance and movement.

Many of the crafts for this year's bazaar have been created through the programs.

Seniors and staff must get an early start to prepare for the Christmas bazaar.

"We have Christmas in July," Schrodetski said. "That is when we start preparing for the bazaar.

"For instance, we start to pour the molds, clean and fire the clay, before the seniors can paint it," she said.

In addition to preparing the clay for ceramics, seniors sand and stain wooden reindeers and sleds and give Nativity sets a special treatment.

"We paint the wood Nativity sets with a metallic bronze paint," Schrodetski explained. "Once the paint has dried, we will wipe each one of the 17 pieces with a substance called patina green, which gives a brassy appearance."

Schrodetski said the ceramic pieces in this year's bazaar were crafted by developmentally disabled seniors who come to the center.

"The ceramic items we are selling were made by them in their therapeutic ceramics class,which they have once a week," Schrodetski said.

James Myers was involved in a number of preparations for the bazaar, but acknowledged that he had a favorite.

"I like to paint. I'll paint anything I can get my hands on," said the 58-year-old Union Bridge resident.

"Ipainted everything -- sleds and Nativity scenes, you name it."

Schrodetski said she hopes this year's bazaar will be as successful as those in years past.

"I would like to see us make $2,000 this year," she said. "The people really need this center. They need to have this center to come to daily."